Under Armour strikes deal with the MLB to become uniform provider

Under Armour this week scored its first major American pro sports uniform deal with Major League Baseball. The American press is reporting that the Baltimore-based sportswear company and Fanatics will produce Under Armour branded on-field uniforms for the MLB starting with the 2020 season.

Under Armour athlete Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers

As per the agreement, all MLB uniforms will feature Under Armour branding except the headwear, which will remain under New Era. MLB currently has uniform deals with Nike and Majestic, which will end in 2019. Majestic signed with the MLB in 2005 and Nike signed with MLB in 2009.

Fanatics became partners with Major League Baseball in 2003 providing e-commerce for the baseball organization in addition to the NFL, NBA, NHL, Nascar and the PGA Tour. Under Armour, who sponsors MLB stars Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals, Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants, aimed to increase its presence in the MLB beyond limited footwear rights, which it began in 2011, and player endorsements.

The MLB is the latest major US sports organization to change uniform providers. In 2015, the NBA entered an eight-year partnership with Nike to produce on-court uniforms after working with Adidas since 2006. Stance also signed with the NBA to become the organization’s official sock provider.